Okay, so I’m all for the idea of making work pay. That’s the slogan of the Change To Win campaign unveiled in Las Vegas yesterday. Since I couldn’t get there, I’m going to piece this together over the next few days.

The press statement of CTW says this:

The seven-union Change to Win federation today unveiled its new campaign to unite millions of workers across the country in an effort to raise living standards and improve the quality of life for American workers. With 2,000 organizers meeting in Las Vegas for the federation’s first organizing convention, Change to Win leaders announced that the Make Work Pay! campaign will launch on the week of April 24 with actions targeting major industries in more than 35 cities.

“The Make Work Pay! campaign is about ensuring that millions of taxpayers who are working harder and longer with less to show for it are able to be part of the American middle class,” said Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win.” She added “We are fighting so that individuals who work hard can earn paychecks that actually support families; receive affordable health care, have the chance to give their children a better life and count on a secure retirement.

“We are going to reach out to those workers who are not yet organized and to the members of the public that understand and support the notion that this country can’t exist without a vibrant middle class,” Burger said. “This campaign will empower the millions of workers to help them effect real change to make work pay.”

Seems like this is kind of a living wage campaign under a union banner. No objection to the idea ,though, personally, I wonder why, if the goal is to try to reach out to millions of unorganized workers, the big campaign isn’t simply Medicare For All? Wouldn’t an audience of 45 million uninsured Americans be about as big as you’d hope to get? Wouldn’t mass action in 35 cities, shutting down streets, over health insurance galvanize a ton of people?

The question is: how is this week of April 24th going to be done? Is it rallies, with follow through, or just rallies that make everyone feel good and just–but that don’t lead anywhere? Obviously, I’m hopeful that, with the talent CTW has pulled together and the emphasis on a streamlined organization focused on organizing, we’ll see something new and dymanic. But…the jury is still out.

But, it is clear that this is one measuring stick to begin evaluating what CTW will do that’s different than the AFL-CIO–either in strategy and/or results.